Last month, Apple quietly rolled out a new feature of the iOS App Store that let users running older versions of the mobile operating system download “last compatible versions” of their purchased apps. It was a smart move that ensured that customers with older devices could still get access to their favorite apps, even after those apps had been upgraded to support the latest builds of iOS. But there were many questions about exactly how the feature would work, and if any limits would be placed on certain devices or iOS builds.
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Apple has now clarified the process from an app developer perspective. The company emailed developers this week, officially informing them of the change to App Store policy, and offering options that let developers opt-out of the feature.
Users who have already purchased your app are now able to download previous versions, allowing them to use your app with older devices that may no longer be supported by the current version.
If you do not want previous versions of your app to be available, for example due to a usability or legal issue, you can manage their availability in the Rights and Pricing section of the Manage Your Apps module on iTunes Connect.
Apple has one of the highest adoption rates among technology companies, and record numbers of users have already upgraded to the latest version of iOS. But if you’re stuck with an unsupported device, Apple has thankfully made it possible to still get working versions of your essential apps, even if they lack the latest features. While some developers may be legally required to limit access to previous versions of their apps, we hope the majority of developers don’t take advantage of the opt-out provision.
